Insider: Colts' case for and against Richie Incognito

Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito (68) on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)(Photo: Wilfredo Lee AP)

"Anybody that's on the street right now, after the cutdowns this weekend, anybody that's available, we'll discuss," he said. "We will not, based on anything, say yea or nay based on history, this, that or the other. If it makes sense, if it's going to help us win and it's the best thing for the team and this organization moving forward – doesn't matter if it's Richie or anyone else – we'll do what's right for this organization and what gives us the best chance to win."

That was a far more open-minded answer than I'd expected. I was prepared for the usual coach speak about the Colts liking their current players but never closing the door on any potential move, etc. This was so much more demonstrative.

So, yeah, the Colts might be talking internally about Incognito, who became infamous during last season's bullying scandal with the Miami Dolphins.

So, since we're having this conversation, let's look deeper.

What are the pros and cons of signing Incognito?

The argument in favor

>> Don't let history repeat itself

If you watched the Colts in 2013, you probably noticed the unreliability of the interior offensive line. There's a reason the Colts retained only one of their three interior starters (guard Hugh Thornton), and it's because they performed lousy. The play of the interior line undermined the running game and allowed quarterback Andrew Luck to take an unnecessary beating.

The Colts are more talented right now in this area. Center Khaled Holmes looks the part, although he remains utterly inexperienced. Rookie Jack Mewhort seems like a player, but he's a rookie playing one of the most mentally-taxing positions on the field.

Adding a player of Incognito's ability and experience would certainly allow Pagano to sleep sounder.

>> The Colts have a strong locker room

With rock-solid leaders like Luck, Robert Mathis, Cory Redding and Reggie Wayne already in place, the Colts have a locker room that's much more stable than most. They also have a well-respected coach in Pagano who has a firm grip on his players and knows the temperature of his locker room. Incognito's antics (i.e. mandatory position meetings in strip joints) would probably be met with stiff resistance in Indianapolis.

>> Super Bowl or bust

You might have noticed the Colts have been a popular Super Bowl pick. There's a reason for that, and it's the fact that their roster is stocked with talent. But they do have areas of weakness. And an unproven offensive line – outside of tackles Anthony Castonzo and Gosder Cherilus – might be one of them (until it proves otherwise).

What if adding Incognito and shoring up the offensive line could be the difference?

The Colts consistently talk about a roster that features "horseshoe guys," which they consider to be players with solid character. Incognito would appear to be the antithesis of that. Would signing an embattled player who was at the center of an ugly scandal send the wrong message to the Colts' younger players?

Only weeks after cutting running back Chris Rainey for a stunt associated with rookie hazing, signing Incognito would be a major contradiction.

>> Stunting growth of young players

If Incognito joined the Colts, the Colts might be willing to use him as a depth player. But if they gave into temptation and played him in the starting lineup – and he'd instantly be one of their best linemen – it would come at the expense of valuable experience for Mewhort or Thornton. In the long run, this might not be the right move.

>> Fan resistance

Signing a player like Incognito likely won't play well here in the Midwest, meaning the Colts could open themselves up to criticism from the fan base. There already are a fair number of fans who have expressed outrage about the accusations leveled against owner Jim Irsay stemming from his DUI arrest earlier this year. Signing Incognito might result in a bigger outcry.

But the NFL is a bottom-line business, and if the Colts win a couple more games because they sign a toxic player like Incognito, people will likely learn to live with him.

Colts Insider:
I have covered a wide array of sports since the late 1990s, but NFL football has been my game since 2005. You saw the game. But I'll tell why and how the Colts won or lost, plus give the scoop on who's behind the face mask.